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Saugatuck Public Schools Continue To Receive Regional And National Recognition

September 18th, 2014 | By SPS Superintendent Rolfe Timmerman

Saugatuck Public Schools continue to perform well on various rankings both regionally and nationally.

On the most recent Top to Bottom list in Michigan, a system that takes into consideration test scores and various student population variables, each of the three buildings performs strongly compared to the 3000+ school buildings in Michigan. Douglas Elementary is ranked in the 91st percentile, Saugatuck Middle School is in the 84th percentile and Saugatuck High School is in the 93rd percentile.

Each building has received REWARD school status at least one time from the Michigan Department of Education, the highest ranking given by the MDE.

Later in the fall the Beating the Odds rankings will be released and if history is any indicator, each of the three schools in Saugatuck will continue to outperform other school buildings with similar student demographics.

During the past month Saugatuck High School has received national recognition.

In August, US News and World Report named SHS as a Top 2000 high school in the United States (there are over 35,000 high schools in the USA).

Earlier this month Newsweek named Saugatuck High School in the Top 500 Beating the Odds High Schools, which measures at-risk student success.

Both recognitions are a point of pride for Saugatuck High School and provide evidence that a great staff, working with dedicated students, supportive parents, and a community that supports the school is a winning combination.

Douglas Elementary School and the Van Andel Educational Institute are working together to make DES a “beacon school” for elementary science instruction.

The Van Andel Education Institute’s Science Academy in downtown Grand Rapids offers educational programs for elementary and middle school students and teachers to advance and promote science education and increase the number of students who pursue careers in science. In August, every DES teacher traveled to the VAEI to receive training on how to be more effective science teachers at every grade level.

This intense training will continue throughout the next several years and other schools will be able to visit DES to learn from its staff.

This exciting partnership will promote science instruction and further strengthen DES, a school that already consistently ranks among the best in Michigan.

The Saugatuck Public Schools appreciates the support from the Saugatuck and Douglas communities, the parents and the students, as it strives to be THE Best Small School District in Michigan.